The Great Lakes Type Project uses found materials along Lake Michigan to explore the connection between economic modes of production and the environment.

Throughout the 19th century, participants in “the big cut” extracted lumber from upper midwestern forests to construct cities on the east coast. A burgeoning wood type industry surrounding the Great Lakes used the same lumber to produce moveable type. In response to wood type’s roots in the extractive economy, I attempted to gather materials at three sites surrounding Lake Michigan. While beachcombing did not yield enough material to form a 12” x 18” block, I found alternative mediums to represent modern industry around the Lakes.